Take Joy In the Little Moments of Life
The joy of Christ can be and should be a present reality that impacts every moment of every day.
Last Friday, I woke up around 5:30 AM, drove thirty minutes to the only dedicated hockey rink in Boise (something that breaks this Canadian's heart), and played an hour and a half of pickup hockey.
On the way home, I stopped by Scottie's Donuts (a workable substitute for Tim Hortons) to pick up a few morsels of delicious goodness for the fam. There's nothing like watching one of your kids so excited about something that took you only a few extra minutes to provide.
Afterwards, my four-year-old girl, Azellie, went to Janan and said, "Mommy, your husband is a great man."
The stuff kids say.
Hearing these words not only made me a lot more likely to get donuts in the future, but they were also a reminder to enjoy the moment.
This Is the Day
Psalm 118:24 says, "This is the day the Lord has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it." Not tomorrow. Not yesterday. This day.
Doing a bit of digging, we find that Psalm 118 is a thanksgiving psalm and part of the Egyptian Hallel, sung during major Jewish festivals such as Passover. John Goldingay says, "The song’s title refers to a day when Yahweh has acted in a spectacular way to deliver his people from a crisis. Quite likely the better translation is 'This is the day when Yahweh acted.'"[1]
It celebrates deliverance, both personal and national victory, and acknowledges God as the source of salvation and steadfast love. "It involves the whole congregation, but it particularly involves the voice of an 'I,' someone such as the king, a leader such as Nehemiah in a period when Israel didn’t have kings, or a worship leader."[2]
The verbs “rejoice” and “be glad” invite a communal outburst of joy, reflecting Israel’s collective gratitude for God’s victory. Joy in what he has done, but joy in what he is doing. This day.
The Source of Our Present Joy
Fast-forward to the New Testament and you'll discover that Mark 11 intentionally echoes Psalm 118 during Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. As the crowds spread branches and shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
By applying this psalm to Jesus, the people identify him with the long-awaited deliverer. Thus, Psalm 118’s imagery of divine victory and joyful procession finds its ultimate expression in the arrival of Christ the King. Goldengay adds, "In different ways the people and Jesus see the psalm as illuminating what Jesus is about."[3]
This is a reminder that our present hope is rooted in a completed reality that has continuing reverberations. It's because of the completed work of Christ that each moment, like giving your kids a donut, can have present and lasting joy. A joy that recognizes this tiny taste of happiness is a foreshadowing of an eternity of joy.
So, How Do You Live With Joy?
Start by intentionally grounding each moment in this truth.
As you get out of bed, thank God for the joy of starting a brand new, uncertain day that is anchored in his certainty.
Enjoy the great moments, keeping in mind that what makes them great is not just present joy but the taste of eternity that they offer. Rejoice in painful times, remembering they are, in the grand scheme of life, only for a breath.
Life is hard. The reality of death is ever-present. But the constant hope of joy should always remain.
[1]John Goldingay, Psalms for Everyone, Part 2, vol. 12 of Old Testament for Everyone. Accordance electronic ed. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2014), 141.
[2] Ibid, 141.
[3] Ibid, 142.
